Chapter 357 - Volume 3
Chapter 136 – Into battle
The trees within the Dark Forest were of varied height and appeared like waves of water in the night wind. It was impossible to find where they ended. Wolves started to howl within the forest, and more answered the call from near and far.
The succession of howls came nearer and nearer to the camp, and it sounded as though the beasts with bared fangs were growling next to everyone’s ears. Black shadows darted across the ground, stopping occasionally as they sniffed the air, as though they were seeking their prey.
A single pair of red lights the size of dots suddenly appeared in mid-air. In a heartbeat, hundreds more emerged and left vanishing trails. And in a few seconds, the number was as many as the stars in the sky. White cold mist could be seen streaming from their steely snouts.
The youths gasped, while the ambassadors’ muscles became taut.
“Prepare for battle!” Austin immediately judged they were unable to leave in this situation and ordered his knights.
Brendel’s men also readied themselves into a defensive formation; those with armor and shields stood in front, while the archers were placed in the back.
“Stay in position!” A yell rang out.
Brendel gave a smile that bared his teeth as a sudden wolf howl could be heard: “In the name of Aouine, and the oath of the selfless lions—”
Austin was transfixed, but a single cry broke out behind him and answered Brendel: “I will uphold it with the sword in my hands!”
The knights behind Austin pulled out their swords and also repeated that cry as they faced the black wolves.
Brendel pulled out Halran Gaia: “Thus, descendants of the warriors who followed King Erik—”
The black wolves were finally moving.
“Slay the foes before us!”
A rolling carpet of black wolves rushed towards the camp. Red eyes flashed by as the wolves ran in the shape of a curve, heading towards the knights who formed a wall. Ten-odd wolves who were ahead of the pack leaped up to an area that oversaw the camp. They released a long howl that was high in tone before it fell in pitch, and the other wolves split into two forces, running past them.
The black monsters crashed into the humans wearing white armor. Lances impaled several bodies all at once, and black spurts of blood went in all directions. The lances creaked heavily as they withstood the immense pressure from the wolves, and the knights and youths were forced back with their feet dragging across the ground.
Finally, the lances snapped.
“Swords!”
The people who had their weapons broken threw them down and immediately pulled their longswords.
[A little longer. I need to wait a little longer.]
Brendel watched the wolves collide against the humans like they were cars that lost control in an accident. Golden lights appeared and flew straight at him. In an instant, more than two hundred XP were added to his total points.
He reached out for his own Potion of Dragonblood Strength and drank it. The viscous liquid went down his throat and he felt his body warm up. It was not painful, but it was an undeniable heat.
Green words appeared across his retina:
– Strength +25
– Agility +10
– Physique +20
– Potential +~10%
The effectiveness of the potion was diminished because of his high level. The youths under him would have benefitted far more in terms of additional stats. Kodan’s true level was actually higher than Brendel, so the increase in stats would not be as high.
The increase of stats was temporary with the exception of the Potential stat. The Potential Stat will slowly temper the body as long as the ‘drug’ remained in the system. Most of it will be squandered, but intense battles would allow it to be spent at a faster rate.
[Time to grind XP. Wait, that isn’t right. Time to have a workout.]
Brendel flexed his wrists with a few audible cracks.
[Holy Swords, open the path!]
A sudden pair of gigantic green wings appeared behind him and extended to each side—